Perception of Older Adults in Different Cultures
Aging is an unavoidable body process that causes physical, psychological, and social changes in individuals. Older adults form a significant proportion of the world’ s population. Different cultures have different perceptions of older adults. Many cultures in the world describe older adults as seniors who have attained an age of 65 years and above. Various cultures in the world, including the United States, have adopted different ways in their quest to take care of the old population.
Respecting and taking care of the elderly is part of the Chinese culture. Most of the elderly adults suffer from mental illness because of being socially isolated. Besides, older adults can experience financial challenges because of their inability to work. In China, the young population is required by the law to support their older parents (Dana, 2016). The law in China allows older parents to sue their children who fail to offer financial and emotional support to them. The young population is taught on the need for supporting elderly adults. Companies in China are required by the law to give some time off for the workers to visit their aging parents. Therefore, supporting and respecting the older adults has become part of Chinese life.
Japan is one of the most favorable places in the world where older adults enjoy to live. In Japan, the elderly population is higher than the young population (Schmidt, Slaug, & Oswald, 2018). People who have attained the age of 65 years are more than any other age group in Japan. The belief that older adults should not live near their children is a common negative stereotype across the world. Japan has overcome this negative stereotype. As a result, people live longer in Japan than in any other country in the world. As the people age, the more the support they need from the community. Japan has realized this secret and families enjoy living close to older parents and grandparents. In Japan, it is a common practice to find young people doing body exercises with the elderly. Living together with older adults is considered a blessing in Japan, which has caused the country to set standards on how to honor and take care of the older population.
In Scotland, older adults are treated as the country’s assets, unlike in the US. The country has passed the “Reshaping Care for Older People” policy in the effort of taking care of the elderly (Dana, 2016). The policy allows Scotland’s government to channel resources for preventive care of adults instead of treating illnesses. Contrary, in the United States, older adults are not treated with the respect that they deserve. In the United States, people with wrinkled skin are considered old and unworthy and suffer the feeling of ageism. Unlike in Japan, Scotland, and China, where taking care of old people is a tradition, the elderly in the United States are subject to prejudice and to stereotyping. Currently, the United States has started acknowledging the older people by celebrating the elderly during Older Americans Month.
In Conclusion, respecting and taking care of the elderly is a tradition in the Chinese, Scotland, and Japanese cultures. In the United States, the elderly people have been isolated and suffer from the negative effects of stereotyping. The United States should learn from the Chinese and Japanese cultures on the importance of supporting older adults both financially and emotionally. China, Scotland, and Japan should also learn from the United States on how to acknowledge the older adults by dedicating some days, specifically for celebrating the contributions of the older people.